Refillable cosmetic container



Nov. 17, 1959 L. E. ISELE REFILLABLE COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed oct. a, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 17, 1 959 L. E. ISELE REFILLABLE COSMETIC CONTAINER W Filed Oct. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6.

FIG. 7.

FIG. 8.

INVENTOR.

nited States Pate REFILLABLE COSMETIC CONTAINER Application October 8, 1958, Serial No. 766,374

12 Claims. (Cl. 206S6) This invention relates to cosmetic or the like containers and in particular to those containers in which a carrier for cosmetic substance, or the like, is propelled upon relative rotation of two parts of the container. This application is a continuation-in-part of cop'ending applications Serial No. 614,958, filed October 9, 1956, now abandoned, and Serial No. 690,350, filed October 15, 1957, now abandoned.

In containers of the character indicated, it has always been a problem to load cosmetic substance into the carrier without smearing the cosmetic substance on the hands or around the container. It is particularly messy if the customer is expected to change lipstick shades in the same container, and to avoid this difficulty, it has been customary for the user to have separate lipstick containers with separate shades of cosmetics.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cosmetic container of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide an improved cosmetic container in which the changing of lipsticks in the same container is a very simple matter which may be performed without mess.

It is a further object to meet the above objects with a construction in which a unitary loaded cosmetic carrier may be readily removed from and inserted into a cosmetic container of conventional appearance, and in which there may never be any need for the user to grasp the cosmetic substance directly.

A still further object is to provide a snap-ejection action for the carrier of a container of the character indicated.

A specific object is to meet the above objects with a rotary-propulsion mechanism in which the carrier is ejectable out the open end of the container and in which means are provided to assure against inadvertent loss of the carrier until such time as the propulsion mechanism is deliberately actuated to excess.

Another specific object is to provide an improved ejection-type rotary lipstick container construction wherein the parts cooperate to define and hold the position in which the carrier may be removed and replaced.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention;

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view in elevation of a container according to the invention, with certain parts broken away and shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on a reduced scale showing the upper end of the container of Fig. 1, with the parts in a different relationship to illustrate either inser-- tion or removal of a loaded cosmetic carrier;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partly broken-away, fragmentary top view, as seen from the aspect 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken in the plane 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of a part of an alternative container;

2 Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating a modified form;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary 'view of the upper parts of Fig. 6, in a slightly advanced relationship;

Fig. 8 is another fragmentary view of the upper part serve as the propulsion means for a carrier contained within the tubular members. The container may be closed at one end and open at the other, and, in accordance with the invention, both cam slots are open at the open end of the container, so that the loaded carrier may be bodily inserted and removed through the open end of the container when the open ends of the cam slots are in register. Novel means are provided for locating the parts and for holding a located position of the parts so as to readily accept an inserted container; means are also provided whereby inadvertent ejection of the loaded container may be avoided and yet whereby the carrier may be ejected with a snap action, when desired. As an important feature of the invention, the container generally outlined above features means'assuring against inadvertent loss of the carrier (even after passing the location of snap-action) until such time as the propulsion mechanism is deliberately actuated to excess.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the invention is shown in application to a container comprising an inner tubular member '10 and an outer tubular member 11 having divergingcam slots 1213 for the longitudinal propulsion of a carrier 14 within the members 1011. Cam-follower means 15, such as an eyelet drifted out of the body of the carrier 14, is shown riding the two cam slots 12-43. The cam 12 may be a straight slot in the inner tubular member 10, and the cam .13 may be a spiral slot in the outer tubular member '11. A sleeve member or barrel 16 encases the outer tubular member 11 and is locked against rotation with respect theretoso as inelfect to be formed with and to carry the same. The inner tubular member "10 may be formed integrally with an actuating'base, but in the form shown, a separate base member 17 is press-fitted on an enlarged cylindrical portion 18 at the lower end of the inner tubular member 10. The shoulder or step 19 between the main body of the inner tubular member 10 and the cylindrical portion 18 serves as an end bearing to locate the outer tubular member 11 and the barrel 16. Location at the open end of the container is achieved by means of a circumferential head 20 formed near the rim of the inner tubular member 10. For appearances sake, the upper edge 21 of the barrel 16 is formed inwardly so as to overlap part of the inner tubular member 10. Finally, a closure cap is suggested by phantom outline 22, for selectively closing the open end of the container, said cap being frictionally fitted, if desired, to a hub portion 23 of the base 17.

In accordance with the invention, both camslots 1213 are open at the open end of the containerso that, when the open ends of both cam slots are in register, the loaded carrier 14 may be inserted or removed without obstruction; a limited portion of e'dge 21 is cut away at the open -end of slot 13, as suggested at 21 in Fig. '3, to permit insertion of the cam-follower '15. Preferably, abutment means are provided to locate the angular relation of the tubular members in which both slots 12 13 are in register, and, since the tubular members will have rotated in the direction of propelling the carrier 14 (in order to achieve this position of registering open slots), the abutment means is perferably of the variety which engages only to stop rotation in the propelling direction.

In Fig. 4, the abutment means is-shown to comprise a spring tongue 25 formed out of the material of the inner tubular member 10 and normally bent outwardly so as to frictionally ride the inner surface or wall of the outer tubular member 11. On approach to the position at which the open ends of the slots 1213 are in register, the lug 25 rides off the inner wall of the outer tubular member 11 into an opening 26 therein; and at the location for which the open ends of the slots 12-13 are in register, the lug 25 directly strikes the far edge 26' of the opening 26, thus defining a positive stop to locate the angular position at which a clear path is presented for axial insertion of the carrier and cam-follower.

Fig. 2 best illustrates the relation of the parts when the abutment means 2526 is engaged. In Fig. 2, the loaded carrier 14 happens to have been removed from the container; however, theinserted cam-follower position (-i.e. when the carrier 14 is first inserted) is shown in dashed outline 15'. For the arrangement of parts shown, the spiral slot 13 propels with its lower edge, and this edge is cut away to define a step or notch or lateral offset 27 at the open end of the slot 13. This means that, when the parts have been rotated to propel the carrier toward the open end of the container, there will be a point beyond which determined propulsion will not further propel the carrier, no matter how hard the relatively rotatable parts are driven with respect to each other. Upon inserting a carrier 14, with the cam follower 15 resting in the notch 27, the cam follower 15 is positioned beneath the leading edge 28 of the slot 13, so that upon retracting relative rotation of the parts, said leading edge 28 can immediately engage the cam follower 15 and, in cooperation with the cam slot 12, effect clean and positive retraction, of the loaded carrier. It will be noted that notch 27 is so located with respect to the rim 21, and that follower 15 is so axially located with respect to the rim of carrier 14, that when resting in notch 27, the substantial upper part of carrier 14 is exposed for manual grasping.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, resilient latch means is provided, cooperating between two movable parts of the assembly to determine a normal upper limit of carrier propulsion, and also to provide a snap-ejection action for the carrier. The latch means is, therefore, preferably effective just prior to the position in which the open ends of the propulsion slots are in register. The latch means may coact between the carrier and the inner tubular member or between the two tubular members, but in the form shown, the latch means involves coaction between both cam slots and the cam-follower means 15. The latch means is shown as an elongated tongue 29 having an enlargement or projection 30 extending to partially close off the straight slot 12 of the inner tubular member 10. Said projection 30 is formed to normally intercept the follower 15, as shown in Fig. 1, thus providing the feel of having propelled the lipstick to the top limit of its travel. When it is desired to eject the carrier 14, the parts 1617 are grasped and driven more strongly than usual in order to drive the follower 15 past the latch 30.

The latch 30 is formed with an outwardly flaring or camming surface 31, extending upwardly and away from the most restricted part of the cam slot 12. Whenever the parts 1011 are rotated in the propelling direction, and once the follower 15 rides past the high point of latch 30, the cam surface 31 is effective to snap the follower (and therefore the carrier 14) out the open end of the container; snap-ejection action is attributable not only to the cam surface 31, but also to the fact that tongue 29 will have been resiliently displaced'while follower l rides latch 30, thus stiffly resiliently preloading the cam action and developing an axially outwardly directed ejection force on the carrier. When a loaded carrier is being drawn into the assembly, as from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. l, the latch 30 will be gently cammed inwardly, and relatively little resistance will be noticed in manually actuating the parts past the latch position. Preferably, the resistance encountered in riding past the latch 30 when drawing a new carrier 14 into the container is less than that encountered when driving the carrier up to its normal upper limit of travel; thus, the lower sloping wall of the latch projection 39 preferably is relatively steeply formed, as shown.

In the arrangement of Fig. 5, I show that the inner tubular member 10 may be formed not only to provide the latch action described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4, whereby loaded carriers may be readily removably accommodated, but also to provide a down-latch function, as in the manner described in Hopgood Patent No. 2,545,848. The down latch in such case is shown at 32, formed in a manner similar to that described in connection with the latch 30, so that when the carrier is fully retracted, latch 32 provides snap-action detent retention of the carrier for safety purposes.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, 1 illustrate a slight modification of the form of Figs. 1 to 4 in order to achieve an additional safety feature, in that the mechanism inherently resists snap-action ejection of the carrier when propelled past the latch 34). For the most part, however, the parts are the same as in Figs. 1 to 4 and have been given the same reference numerals; where a part is different, it has been given the corresponding reference numeral, but with primed notation.

The means whereby inadvertent snap-ejection of the carrier is avoided consists in the provision of a sharp lateral offset in the cam slot 12', said offset being located beyond the location of carrier engagement with the latch 30 and near the open end of the container. In the form shown, the offset is formed at corresponding locations 3536 in the opposite side walls of the straight slot 12', so that the communication of said slot 12' with the outside of the container at the open end is by way of a short straight portion 37. The extent of offset at 3536 preferably corresponds to at least substantially one-half the diameter of the cam follower 15. In connection with the offset 3536, I importantly also rely on the horizontal notch or step 27 near the abutment 27, the radial plane of the offset wall portion 36 being preferably in substantially the same radial plane as the step 27'. Stated in other words, the out-driving edges of both cams terminate at laterally offset steps 27'36 beyond the latch location, and the in-driving edges of both cams extend axially further for at'least the effective Width of the earn-follower means 15.

It so happens that in Figs. 6 to 8, the latch 30 is formed on a downwardly projecting neck 29' which, although shorter than the neck 29 of Fig. 1, is nevertheless narrower and possesses inherently adequate resiliency to deform; thus, it provides strorv snap action upon deliberate propulsion of the carrier past the latch location.

In use, and assuming that the container has been properly loaded and is in normal use, the propulsion mechanism will normally be driven so as to elevate the carrier between the down position (not shown) and the up position (shown in Fig. 6), wherein the cam follower 15 first engages the latch 30' and initial resistance to further propulsion is encountered. Normally, the user of the cosmetic container will not Wish to propel the mechanism any further, and this resistance will be a sufficient reminder not to force the mechanism. If, however, it is desired to change lipsticks, as by replacing the carrier cup with one loaded with a different shade of lipstick, it is merely necessary to increase the torque on the propulsion mechanism, thereby forcing the cam follower 15 to snap past the detent point defined by latch 30'. In such case, the carrier 15 will assume a position more or less as indicated in Fig. 7, wherein the cam follower 15 is confined by the upper offset wall 35, by

the upper point 28 of the sleeve member 11 at the end of the spiral cam slot 13, and by the lower wall of the spiral cam slot 13.

No amount of shaking will dislodge the carrier 14 when in the position of Fig. 7. This means, of course, that if there were an inadvertent propulsion of the carrier past the point of latch action, mere snap action will not result in ejection of the carrier, the cam follower 15 being confined in the space described above.

If it should be desired to release the carrier, an'additional rotation for the effective extent of the lateral offset (i.e. from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8) will be necessary. Upon such additional rotation, the upper point 28 on the sleeve member 11 will be withdrawn from the opening 37 so as to expose a clear straight passage for easy hand removal; alternatively, upon inverting the container, the carrier will drop out without any need for handling the same.

When loading the container with a replaced loaded carrier cup, the mechanism is first actuated to the position shown in Fig. 8; it will be recalled that this position is determined and readily recognizable by engagement of suitable abutment means 2526' (see Fig. 4) when the open ends of the cam slots are in register. The loaded carrier 14 may then be freely inserted, the cam follower 15 riding smoothly down the straight opening 37 and the bottoming on either or both of the steps of offsets 27 36. Rotation of the parts in the downward-propelling direction will first bring the cam follower 15 laterally over into alignment with the straight slot 12', and continued torque will drive the follower 15 past the latch position, whereupon the container is fully loaded and ready for use.

A modified employment of the general organization of Figs. 6 to 8 is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein camfollower coaction with the laterally offset abutment edges 27-37 is relied upon for positive location of the alignedslot condition, for ready removal of a carrier 14. In order to hold this aligned position, and at the same time to produce a satisfying uniform drag-torque feel, the resilient torque 25' (formed out of one of the tubular members -11 and resiliently preloaded against the other) develops continuous friction engagement between the rotatable parts, without requiring the positive stop noted in connection with Fig. 4. Operation of the device is otherwise as described for Figs. 6 to 8. m

It will be seen that a relatively simple cosmetic-container construction has been described, permitting extremely easy insertion and removal of loaded cosmetic containers. At no time need one contact the cosmetic substance because the carrier itself is either directly exposed for grasping or for engagement by a suitable closure cap 42. The construction lends itself particularly to provision of automatic means whereby assurance may be had that even when the carrier is propelled past the latch location, the carrier will not be inadvertently lost, deliberate further rotation of the parts being necessary to achieve removal of the carrier.

While the invention has been described in detail for the preferred forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members having longitudinally diverging cam slots, a carrier with cam-follower means engaging both of said slots, said container being closed at one end and open at the other, whereby lipstick or the like carried by said carrier may be projected out said open end on relative rotation of said members, both said cam slots being open for at least the width of said cam-follower means at the open end of said container and cooperating with said cam follower means to define an axial-propulsion length for said carrier, one of said slots being provided near the upper end of said propulsion length with a substantial lateral offset therein, the extent of said offset being of the order of atleast one-half the effective lateral span of said cam follower, whereby upon propulsion to said offset, said offset will serve to retain said cam follower and therefore said carrier against loss, but yet upon further deliberate rotation of said tubular members for substantially the extent of said offset, an opening will be presented for manual removal of said carrier, and latch means formed out of one of said tubular members and including a lateral projection partially closing off the slot space between opposite walls of the cam slot in said one tubular member near the open end of said container and on the side of said offset remote from said open end, said latch means being located effectively short of the upper limit of said axial-propulsion length, whereby said propulsion means may be effective to draw an inserted carrier down and past said latch means.

2. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members, one of which has a spiral cam slot and the other of which has a straight cam slot, a carrier with cam-follower means engaging both said slots, one of said slots being formed near the open end of said container with latch means including a lateral projection partially closing off the slot space between opposite walls of said one cam slot, said straight cam slot being formed near the open end of said container with a substantial lateral offset located beyond the latch location, said cam slots and said calm-follower means cooperating to define an extended axial-propulsion length for said carrier, said length extending on opposite longitudinal sides of the effective location of said latch means and extending direct to said offset, whereby, upon propulsion of the carrier past the latch location, said offset will serve to retain the carrier against removal, said straight slot communicating straight to the open end of said container beyond said offset, whereby upon further-rotation of the parts at said offset the cam follower may be exposed to a direct opening for ready axial removal out the open end of said container.

3. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members, one of which has a spiral cam slot and the other of which has a straight cam slot, said spiral cam slot being radially outside said straight cam slot, a carrier with cam-follower means engaging both said slots, one of said slots being formed near the open end of said container with latch means including a lateral projection partially closing off the slot space between opposite walls of said one cam slot, said straight cam slot being formed near the open end of said container with a substantial lateral offset located beyond the latch location, whereby, upon propulsion of the carrier past the latch location, said offset will serve to retain the carrier against removal, said straight slot communicating straight to the open end of said container beyond said offset, whereby upon further rotation of the parts at said offset the cam follower may. be exposed to a direct opening for axial removal out the open end of said container, the lower edge of said spiral cam slot having near the upper end thereof a laterally offset step in substantially the same radial plane as the lower limit of the lateral offset in said straight slot, whereby for the effective angular overlap of both said last-mentioned offsets, a rotation of the parts will not advance the carrier, but will merely serve to laterally displace the cam follower to the extent of said effective angular overlap.

4. A cosmetic container according to claim 3, and including friction means coacting between said tubular members to develop uniform drag torque as a function of rotation of said tubular members, whereby a limit of rotation of said tubular members is determined by abutment of said cam-follower means with said laterally offset step and with one edge of said straight slot beyond said offset, thereby determining the aligned position of said slots at the open end of said container.

5. A cosmetic container according to claim 4, in which said friction means comprises a spring tongue member formed out of the body of one of said tubular members and continuously resiliently bearing on the other of said tubular members.

6. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members, one of which has a spiral cam and the other of which has a straight cam, a. carrier with cam-follower means engaging both said cams, whereby said carrier may be said to be driven in the axially outward direction by out-driving edges of said cams, and in the axially inward direction by in-driving edges of said cams, the radially inner one of said cams being a slot and being formed near the open end of said container with latch means including a lateral projection reducing the effective width of said slot to less than the efiective width of said cam-follower means, the out-driving edges of both said cams extending outwardly past the latch location but terminating short of the open end of said container, one of said cams having at said terminating location a substantial lateral ofiset, whereby, upon propulsion of the carrier past the latch location, said olfset will serve to retain the carrier against removal, said one cam communicating to the open end of said container from said ofis'et, said other cam communicating to the open end of said container, whereby upon further rotation of the parts at said ofiset the cam follower may be exposed to a direct opening for removal out the open end of said container, the in-driving edges of both said cams extending axially outwardly beyond the out-driving edges thereof substantially for the effective width of said cam-follower means, whereby for an inserted carrier, rotation of said tubular members in the direction to retract said carrier will positively displace the same first laterally to the effective extent of said offset and then downwardly past the latch location.

7. A container according to claim 6, in which said tubular members include cooperating abutment means determining a limit of relative rotation at the position in which said cam-follower means may be freely inserted therein.

8. A container according to claim 6, in which said &- set is defined by a lateral cut in the out-driving edge of said one cam.

9. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members, one of which has a spiral cam and the other of which has a straight cam, a carrier with cam-follower means engaging both said cams, whereby said carrier may be said to be driven in the axially outward direction by out-driving edges of said cams, and in the axially inward direction by in-driving edges of said cams, the radially inner one of said cams being a slot and being formed near the open end of said container with latch means including a lateral projection reducing the efliective width of said slot to less than the efiective width of said cam-follower means, the out-driving edges of both said cams extending outwardly past the latch location but terminating short of the open end of said container, one of said cams having at said terminating location a substantial lateral offset, whereby, upon propulsion of the carrier past the latch location, said offset will serve to retain, the carrier against removal, said one cam communicating to the open end of said container from said ofiset, said other cam having at said terminating location a recess defining a second lateral offset extending in the direction opposite said first lateral oifset and communicating to the open end of said container, both said lateral offsets terminating in abutment edges substantially parallel to each other and to the propulsion axis, whereby upon further rotation of the parts at said offset until said cam follower strikes both said abutment edges, said cam follower may be exposed to a direct opening for removal out the open end of said container, the in-driving edges of both said cams extending axially outwardly beyond the out-driving edges thereof substantially for the effective width of said cam-follower means, whereby for an inserted carrier, rotation of said tubular members in the direction to retract said carrier will positively displace the same first laterally to the effective extent-of said ofiset and then downwardly past the latch location.

10. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members having longitudinally diverging cam slots, a carrier with cam-follower means engaging both said slots, said container being closed at one end and open at the other, whereby lipstick or the like carried by said carrier may be projected out said open end .on relative rotation of said members, one of said slots being provided near the upper end thereof with a substantial lateral ofiset extending in the direction such that for continuous relative rotation of said tubular members in the carrier-propellin direction over a full effective relative-rotational extent aiil carrier will first be fully axially elevated and will then traverse said lateral ofiset, both said slots being open and aligned for at least the width of said cam-follower means at the open end of said container upon such traverse of said lateral offset, and resilient latch means carried by orfe of said tubular members and including a part efiective between the limits of said rotational extent and at an elevated position of said carrier to locally restrict one'offsaid slots to less than the effective width of said cam-follower means. ll. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members having longitudinally diverging cam slots, one of said cam slots being a spiral cam slot, a carrier with cam-follower means engaging both said slots, one of said slots being formed near the open end of said container with latch means including a lateral projection partially closing off the slot space between opposite walls of said one cam slot, both said slots being open at the open end of said container for at least the effective width of said cam-follower means and beyond the location of said latch means, said spiral cam slot having a propulsion edge and a retraction edge, said propulsion edge having near the upper end thereof a recess defining a laterally offset step in a plane beneath the upper end of said retraction edge; said latch means being so formed that in a propelling operation of said container, latch coaction with said cam-follower means occurs prior to coaction with said step; and said latch means being further so formed that in a retracting operation involving insertion of said carrier at the open end of said container, latch action will be encountered only after the upper end of said retraction edge has become engaged over said cam-follower means, whereby continued retracting rotation of said tubular members will forcibly retract said cam-follower means past said latch means.

12. In a cosmetic container, two relatively rotatable generally concentric tubular members having longitudinally diverging cam slots, one of said cam slots being a spiral cam slot, a carrier with cam-follower means engaging both said slots, one of said slots being formed near the open end of said container with latch means including a lateral projection partially closing oif the slot space between opposite walls of said one cam slot, both said slots being open at the open end of said container for at least the efiective width of said cam-follower means and beyond the location of said latch means, said spiral cam slot having a propulsion edge and a retraction edge,

said latch means being so longitudinally located with respect to said retraction edge that said cam-follower means for an inserted carrier will effectively engage said latch means only after clearing the plane of the upper limit of said retraction edge, whereby for propelling operation latch action is completed before loss of possible retraction control, and whereby for retracting operation latch action is overcome solely by cam action.

No references cited. 

